Aquino upset by DFA statement on Malaysia’s human rights violations

Fleeing residents of Tanjung Labian flee their village in the area where Filipino gunmen are locked in a stand off with Malaysian security forces in Sabah state on March 10-2013. AFP-News Mohd Rasfan. From Yahoo.
In the press conference of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima in Malacañang yesterday on the arrest of 35 armed men from Sabah, she was asked why the government is quick on acting against the people associated with the Lahad Datu standoff and is not acting on reports on maltreatment by Malaysians of Filipinos in Sabah.

De Lima justified the glaring difference in their reactions to the fact the armed men believed to be members of the Royal Security Force of the Sultan of Sulu were intercepted by the Philippine Navy in the high seas of Tawi-Tawi with firearms and deadly weapons which is a violation of the Comelec gun ban.
She skipped the second part of the question and the reporter did not follow it up.

Reliable information we got from Malacañang explains why De Lima, formerly chairperson of the Human Rights Commission, kept quiet on the issue of gross human rights violations by Malaysia against Filipinos in Sabah.
A source said President Aquino was upset that the Department of Foreign Affairs, which got involved only in the Sabah issue on the third week of the crisis (Malacanang considered it a domestic issue and involved only the Department of Interior and Local Government and the Department of Justice), issued a statement last Sunday expressing “grave concern (on) the alleged rounding up of community members of Suluk/Tausug descent in Lahad Datu and other areas in Sabah and the alleged violations of human rights reported in the media by some Filipinos who arrived in Sulu and Tawi-Tawi from Sabah.”

The DFA said “The allegations are alarming and should be properly and immediately addressed by concerned authorities.”

The DFA pleaded for access to Filipinos being held “in several locations in Sabah but outside the ‘Ops Daulat’ area,” …to enable them to fulfill their mission which is to provide humanitarian and consular assistance to Filipinos who have been affected by the incident. This was rejected by Malaysia.

Malaysia only allowed Philippine embassy officials in the evacuation centers. Malaysia has also ignored Philippine request for a Philippine Navy ship to dock in Sabah to fetch Filipinos fleeing from abusive Malaysian authorities and the request for a human corridor to allow women and children non-combatants to use.

Take note that Aquino, who had strong words against Jamalulu Kiram III, never said anything about Malaysia’s maltreatment of Filipinos. It was only Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte who said last Sunday, in answer to a question, “these reports are unacceptable.”

Two days after, she followed it up with a requirement that the Department of Social Welfare and Development needs a “ written statement.” She added that media interviews are not enough. “Hindi lang ‘yung basta-basta magpapa-interview—pero ‘yung talagang magsasabing, ‘Ito po ‘yung nangyari, willing po akong magbigay ng statement at pumirma na ito po ‘yung aking nasaksihan’,” she said.

One wonders why is the President, in the midst of Malaysia’s pambabastos, he is still so careful not to offend Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The answer is in the announcement of Presidential Adviser for Peace Process Ging Deles and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front that peace talks, being brokered by Malaysia, will resume next week in Kuala Lumpur.

Deles has been quoted earlier that the Sabah crisis would not affect the peace talks with the MILF.

How many Filipinos were maltreated/abused by malaysian authorities? How were they abused? What is the nature of their physical injuries? Were the abuses related to the Kiram misadventure or were they abuses that occur whenever Malaysia does its regular round-up of illegals?

We need to sort things out before we draw conclusions that conflate the Lahad Datu misadventure with other issues so we don’t become victims of propaganda that glorifies the Kirams at everyone’s expense. Those Kirams have already succeeded in conflating their personal interest and well-being with the national interest and well-being. Pati ba naman itong mga biktima ng abuses eh gagamitin din nila to advance their personal agenda?

This is Fel Jaramillo Rosario’s comment in Facebook on Valte’s statement on sowrn statement from those who say they were maltreated in Sabah:

“I am gnashing my teeth! Is she aware that it is the job of our embassies to look into matters like this in their respective host countries? Take them to task, they should be sending reliable infos and status reports.”

Kumambyo na ng konti ang Malacañang. The DSWD daw will be the one to verify the reports published in media. They will talk daw those two people quoted in media.

Mabuti naman.

The government has an extensive machinery to gather information. You have the local government. The military, PNP, intelligence units of different agencies. They can mobilize those to find out the truth. If they want to find out the truth.IF.

Kaya verify first before we open our mouth and start pointing figures condemning people. Let’s allow them to do their job and then kung nagkulang o pawarde-warde yun trabahong verification at assistance to victims we have reason to complain. .

Let’s not shoot first and ask questions later. Less emotion and more sobriety is called for during times of crisis.

In every armed and violent conflict there will be always individuals or groups of individuals that will be Displaced and Human Rights violations is also the consequence of armed conflicts…and it is true on both sides…there will be investigation and verification of allegations of any violation of the rules of engagement and of the Human Rights and until then, any reports that can not be in any way verified or supported by any evidence is not enough to condemn any participant of the conflicts…And many messengers already jumped the gun and that only pouring gasoline to the already raging fire…and will cause more Panic on many and their concern will be exploited by those with INTEREST in the conflicts…and many messengers of the News can also be parties of INTEREST! Is is no longer news or new..

saxnviolins - March 16, 2013 6:52 am

Ayaw paniwalaan ang interview? Sworn statement ang gusto?

Fine.

Print a transcript of the interview and have it signed by the interviewee before the Mayor or Governor, who will administer the oath. So now you have converted your interview into a sworn statement.

Hermes Dorado, former head of the Department of Foreign Affairs national territory division, caused a stir last Tuesday by claiming that President Aquino’s parents — the martyr-hero Ninoy Aquino and former President Cory — had played significant roles in turning the Sabah claim into a “national tragedy”. Specifically he said:

1. Before flying to Manila (where he was assassinated on the tarmac) on August 21, 1983, Ninoy had met with Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir and promised to drop the Philippine claim over Sabah (filed with the International Court of Justice in 1963 by President Diosdado Macapagal) in exchange for Mahathir’s support in ousting the Marcos dictatorship.

2. After becoming president in 1986, “desperately need(ing) the support of the ASEAN for legitimizing her ‘People Power’ Revolution,” Cory gave in to Mahathir’s demand to amend Article I of the 1973 Constitution, by deleting the reference to Sabah as part of Philippine territory. She allegedly delegated the task to a senator and a member of the Constitutional Commission that she had created to draft a new charter.

These factors explain why, Dorado pointed out, the P-Noy government was reluctant to support the Sabah claim.

Still can’t believed the position of our government on this Sabah issue, more importantly when protecting Filipino citizens. I think our government will have a hard time making people believed especially those from the Muslim community that they are here to help. I’m not a Muslim but felt betrayed and at the same time insulted by their friends, the Malaysian government! This could have been handled on equal footing with the Malaysian! Why not? Effort seems lacking. Anyway, what can one expect when we pinoys are treated as an export commodity by our own government or when 74 percent of our economic gains went to only to 40 families of our country!

olan - March 16, 2013 10:24 am

We pinoys should demand more about real representation in our government. Come 2016 when we elect a new president on the assumption it will be Roxas and binay? Are we really voting for someone who would protect our national interest considering the background of both personality when it comes to dealing with the ruling class.. I thought that we are selecting from candidates who are one of the same? I guess another candidate should come up this early.. Real candidate of choice. Some may think my comments or opinions is not in line with the issues discuss here.. My apologies it just that my thoughts of the many problems we are encountering right now goes back to the same group of people leading us!

(18) Which statement is true regarding a Sabah conspiracy?
a. A politically-motivated conspiracy was hatched against Pilipinas and Malaysian governments since its an election year for both countries.
b. Even before statement A, British and Malaysian federation conspired to own North Borneo, now known as Sabah.
c. Long before statements A and B, the Sultans of yore conspired to own and share piecemeal the land called North Borneo, now known as Sabah.

Now the way I look at it, Malaysia will not give up it Sovereignty of Sabah without losing a war or Sabahans itself becoming INDEPENDENT and decided their own Fate…or if the Govt of the Phl still wanted to Pursue any claim and go to the International Court for Arbitration with the condition for both countries to accept the Rulings…otherwise the Sultanate armed Struggles will just cause more tragedies…Financially, the Sultan, his Heirs (sounds like the British Monarchy) can only pursue for better annual remuneration, which the original amount was quite generous in its time, but in this Day amount to less than PEANUTS.

DFA said the burden of proof (on Malaysian human rights abuses vs Filipinos) is on PH media. Jesus….. The job of media is to report as truthfully as it can of what is happening. The government can take up from there, IF they want to protect and do justice to their citizens. They have the whole government machinery to do that. If they find it problematic to protect their citizens, that’s their burden. Huwag nila ipasa sa media.

Ellen, that is soo true that it is always the Government responsibility to pursue the real story behind all the allegations made against it or to any human rights violation or any issue that concern the interest of its Nationals…And the Media more often that not, do a Better Job than the any government in prodding the Government or its instrumentalities to do the Job…with persistent and convincing investigative reporting, any Government will be shamed not to do anything in its power to resolve the issues…And I can give as many example that otherwise the Biggest and most scandalous incident of our history could have not been uncovered without the MEDIA…the Biggest of them all is the Sponsorship Scandal…it was the Reporter of Globe and Mail who first exposed the scandal and his persistent, thru the FOI to uncovered the Corruption in Quebec that cost the Liberal the Govt…Just ongoing now, the Toronto Star, just exposed the Province Biggest Scandal, that contributed to the Premier Quitting and giving way to the First Woman Premier of Ontario and also the First Open Gay Premier…the Scandal affecting the province Air Ambulance Service..It was the Series of Toronto Star exposure that lead to the Investigation and the resignations and firing of top levels CEOs and hospitals officials and ii is still ongoing…The Government with its power will always attempt to sweep the dirt under the RAG and if not for the Independent and Fearless Media, it will remain under the Rag…But of Course the government passing the Buck to the Media is unheard of…Usually it will take initiative to do their own investigation separate and distinct from as reported by the Media…(that is why for the last 40 years, I still keep my subscription to the Print copy of Toronto star…it is getting slimmer now except its Saturday edition, its investigative reporting is just very interesting and very convincing and always Proved to be Right on…as reinforced by Inquiries and police probes)

Following the formation of Malaysia on September 16, 1963, with the original Malaysian government having previously acceded to the UNCLOS I treaties of 1958 on December 21, 1960 Malaysia adopted its Continental Shelf Act on July 28, 1966 and later proclaimed its twelve nm territorial sea on August 2, 1969.*

[*Sabah is located in the northern part of the Borneo Island. Sabah joined the Federation of Malaysia in 1963. Following the inclusion of Sabah, the Malaysian government had redrawn Sabah’s territorial waters and continental shelf in order to endorse the 1954 British declaration of Sabah’s east coast waters as historic waters so as to comply with UNLCOS I treaties of 1958.]

baycas2 - March 18, 2013 4:26 am

HTML tag [blockquote] not working…

LCsiao - March 18, 2013 1:03 pm

In a nutshell, Malaysia’s position is one of TOTAL DENIAL.

baycas2 - March 18, 2013 1:48 pm

That’s why I made this comment before…

[”baycas2 March 6, 2013 at 4:27 pm

xxxxx

Also, The ICJ is the way to go…

@TonGue and @LC, please start your counter-arguments to Malaysian’s point of view here:

“Sabah as part of the Philippines may be an unthinkable idea now, but it is not at all impossible.

“There is too much hype about Sabah being part of Malaysia. It is all propaganda. It is unthinkable that a native Christian from Sabah would ever become prime minister of Malaysia. But a Sabahan can become president of the Philippines if the state is part of that republic.

“Malaysia has clearly failed in Sabah and Sarawak after 47 years…

“If a choice must be made between Malaysia and the Philippines for practical reasons, the former is certainly no option for Sabah, with its poor record in the two Borneo states despite the passage of nearly half a century.

“There is definitely a case here for the UN Security Council to step in.”

Did you read the title baycas? It is Malaysia’s comments to the motion to intervene of the Philippines. This was a Malaysia versus Indonesia case. Ang Lupang Hiniran wanted to intervene.

Basics. When a motion to intervene is denied, it only means the court wants the case to be a two-way fight, not a three way fight. It is not ruling on the claims of the Philippines. In other words, the court is saying, if you want to fight them, sue them each, the ruling here will only be with regard to the claims of Indonesia against Malaysia, without prejudice to the Philippines claiming against the winner.

The case is also only about two islands, not mainland Sabah. Read the first paragraph.

On page 11, Malaysia states that the islands in dispute are nine miles off the coast of mainland Borneo. The grant of the Sultan of Sulu to Baron Overbeck was for islands within nine miles Borneo. So that is the dispute between the Philippines and Malaysia. Our dispute with Malaysia does not include islands not granted to Overbeck.

Any dismissal of our motion to intervene is not a ruling on our claim.

The Philippines was only trying to outmanuever Malaysia. Malaysia does not want to face the Philippines before the ICJ, so the Philippines sought to intervene, because Malaysia was already before the courts. But as Malaysia stated, the issue before the court was simply the ownership of islands not included in the grant of the Sultan of Sulu to Overbeck. So the Philippines was actually trying to intervene and amplify the issues.

Nice try, but it was bound to fail.

Now I wonder who got to bill the Philippines for the motion to intervene.

As to your issue of self-determination. Note page 31, from the SEc Gen of the UN stated that there was no reference to a referendum or plebiscite in the request to him. There were only consultations done.

saxnviolins - March 18, 2013 7:31 pm

Read Rosenne’s “The World Court” found on google books.

The ICJ stated that the Philippines will not be bound by the ruling on the merits of the case of Malaysia v Indonesia.

Ellen,there’s a lot of available real estate on your site. There are spaces in the right column that your designer can allot for a few improvements and stimulate more reader activity.

1. A list of the latest 10 blog entries. (Better than the “Previous” and “Next” links which limit navigation choices to only 2 pages.)

2. A list showing the last 10 comments on any topic arranged chronologically. (Important
where a heated exchanges are happening in some pages, those involved are informed right away if a response has been made.)

3. List of related blogposts as to tags.(Readers can review and compare to relevant events, ideas, sentiments, etc from the past with the present)

Contrary to many accounts, senator Benigno Aquino Jr. did not expose the so-called Jabidah massacre 45 years ago today, which the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) exploited to the hilt to rally Muslims to its secessionist cause.

What he revealed to the world, and asked for a stop to, was the clandestine plan of his archenemy president Ferdinand Marcos to train and send Muslim commandos to Sabah to organize a revolt against Malaysia, the first step for the Philippines to take over the territory.

This conclusion is incontrovertible based on the late senator’s privileged speech on March 28, 1968 titled: Jabidah! Special Forces of Evil?…

The subordinates may have been incompetent, but that could have been averted by a discerning Boss. He could have said, tingnan niyo nga kung may privilege speech ang Tatay ko, at kung may copya pa sa Senate archives.

Siya ang last touch sa usaping ito, so he has nobody to blame but himself. He may fire the dumbkopfs, but if he does not shape up, he will keep allowing dumbkopfs to trip him.

Makes me wonder. During all the years noynoying as a senator, did he not have any curiosity for the much storied privilege speeches of his Dad? I would have asked for the transcripts of all speeches, and would have known more about why many remember his Dad as l’enfant terrible and archnemesis of Macoy.

The court took cognizance of the argument of both Malaysia and Indonesia, that the dispute is about two islands that the Philippines has no claim on. The court also agreed with Indonesia that the Philippines wanted to introduce an issue not presented in the case between Malaysia and Indonesia. Issues to be resolved by the ICJ are agreed upon by the contending parties.

The court took cognizance of the argument of both Malaysia and Indonesia, that the dispute is about two islands that the Philippines has no claim on. The court also agreed with Indonesia that the Philippines wanted to introduce an issue not presented in the case between Malaysia and Indonesia. Issues to be resolved by the ICJ are agreed upon by the contending parties.

“INTERAKSYON: A leading opposition party in Malaysia said Agbimuddin Kiram, the crown prince of Sulu who led more than 200 followers to press their claim to Sabah, is a Malaysian citizen and once served as assistant district officer of Kudat, Sabah.

Kaya lang naman pumayag ang US na isama ang Sabah sa Federal Malaya dahil baka kupkupin sila noon ng Communist Chinese na lumalaki ang influence sa Singapore at sa Malaysia mismo pati na sa buong SEAsia. They looked the other way when the Brits were illegally decolonizing Sabah which was a non-colony. They had to give favors in order to recruit Malaysia to join them in the anti-communist movement. Thus SEATO was born. Pansinin na during this time the British were “decolonizing” Sabah and Singapore while they had extended their hold on Hong Kong and Portugal’s on Macau. Both have now returned to China.

Bandung Conference : At one time in the course of the conference, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru acidly spoke against the SEATO. Quick to draw, Ambassador Romulo delivered a stinging, eloquent retort that prompted Prime Minister Nehru to publicly apologize to the Philippine delegation. ▪ Records had it that the Philippine delegation ably represented the interests of the Philippines and, in the ultimate analysis, succeeded in turning the Bandung Conference into a democratic victory against the plans of the Communist delegates.

The diminutive Romulo’s single-handedly defended the Manila Conference (Non-Aligned Movement) against the pressure of recognizing the China solution to the oppressive West which was what Bandung was all about. France had just lost the war to Vietnam and the fresh democracies were ,on ultra nationalist, communist mode. Nerhru has attended few similar conferences and was impressed by the Chinese model.

What is the relevance to the Sabah crisis? The US, especially now that anti and pro communist sentiments have died down, ought to rethink its position on the Sabah issue and other similar issues to ensure its continued influence on ASEAN members who are tempted to cut a deal with China now that US power is weaning in this part of the world. If they do not act now, they will soon find themselves insignificant and out of the picture especially if staunch allies, like the Philippines start wooing the Chinese in consideration for peace and economic and other benefits we don’t get anymore from the US.

The US can sway the Malaysians on the Sabah issue, they have enough investments in Malaysia that can be used as leverage unlike in Manila, where US business is minimal and are moving elsewhere usually to China, Malaysia, Thailand.and Vietnam.

From the reaction of Malaysian Foreign Minister Anifah Aman (After a meeting with Sultan Bolkiah who earlier met with Obama) that it will not accept third party to solve the Sabah standoff, we now know what Obama’s instructions to Bolkiah were.

‘If Raja Muda Agbimuddin Kiram, also known by those close to him as Datu Puing, was hell bent on taking Sabah back from the 60s to the 70s… all the more he should be hailed a hero! His likes come once in a lifetime… There’s possibly no chance you will see his likes again. So, we must give him honour while he has not been murdered by Najib’s military with the connivance of His Excellency Benigno S Aquino III, President of the Jaundiced Republic

‘Datu Puing served as asst district officer in Sabah during the time of part-Tausug (from Sulu), part Sabahan Tun Mustapha who served as Sabah Chief Minister until he died in a suspicious plane crash accident. Tun Mustapha was said to have been involved in the failed Operation Merdeka back in the 60s.’

William Pryer was designated by Overbeck to “man” the eastern portion (East Commercial Section) of North Borneo. The young man landed in Sandakan Bay on 11 February 1878, immediately after the signing of the Deed of 1878 between Overbeck and the Sultan of Sulu.

baycas2 - March 27, 2013 7:48 am

If in case there will be an ICJ setting for the Philippine claim to North Borneo in the future, a preview to that may very well be the 2001 ICJ oral proceedings when Pilipinas tried to intervene in the Indonesia-Malaysia dispute.